Will the draw at Manchester United inspire Fulham to a great escape?

Steve Sidwell was in fine form against Manchester United (Image: AP Photo)

Not many draws change a season but you get the feeling that Fulham’s valiant point at Old Trafford may well do exactly that.

For this result showed us beleaguered, resigned fans that there is indeed life left in this squad and, even, an ounce of defensive resilience.

It may well be too little too late – the table still isn’t exactly complimentary and nor is our goal difference – but there is a new energy to this team now.

That energy was found in fresh legs – Ryan Tunnicliffe was surprisingly efficient, Muamer Tankovic clever, William Kvist robust – and a tactical setup that may well have been implemented to stifle, but was nonetheless intelligent and effective.

And that is exactly what Fulham have missed – the enthusiasm and spirit that had dissipated so extremely under Martin Jol.

Fulham’s Dutch defender John Heitinga had a great debut (Picture: Getty Images)

It was present in bundles at Old Trafford and it was no better encapsulated than by Steve Sidwell, scorer of our first goal and a rock in midfield that helped keep the likes of Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney at bay.

Our defence deserves a mention, too. They may have only held out for 77 minutes but they were the definition of doggedness. What a change that makes.

John Heitinga was preferred to Brede Hangeland at centre back and he had a solid debut; enough, probably, to keep the Norwegian at bay. Dan Burn deserves the greatest mention, however, with a towering performance. Manchester United battered our back line with crosses and he handled them with consummate ease.

The point itself doesn’t take us far – only four points from safety – but this performance will help carry us forward through a month that is daunting to say the least.

We have a capable squad, one that Rene Meulensteen has supplemented well with the likes of Kvist and Lewis Holtby – who, again, was superb – and the only thing missing was confidence.